11/12/12. Judges 8:22-35. ONLY GOD CAN RULE OVER US-my devotional

Key Verse: 8:23                                                                                   Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF

“But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.”

    Dear Lord, thank you for the dawn of a new day of hope and possibilities.  Thank you for helping us to get ready for the upcoming Bible School with DuPage ministry. I pray that I can preach a heart moving message on John 13. I pray that Hope and Julie can share wonderful testimonies on Jn 13. Move our hearts to love one another as you have loved us. I pray that I can get caught up with my Theology homework. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Part 1: God is The Best King For Us (22-23).

Verses 22-23, “The Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you, your son and your grandson—because you have saved us from the hand of Midian.” ²³ But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.” 

God saved his people through Gideon’s leadership. The people recognized his good leadership and wanted him to establish a monarchy. It was tempting, but Gideon knew that asking him to rule over them was not right, for he knew that God is the best ruler. Human leaders are necessary, but ultimately, we must depend on God’s leadership in our lives, families, ministries, and nation. Let the Lord Jesus rule over your heart and life today.

I am an American citizen. I am ruled over by the constitution and the law and by the leaders of our society. But ultimately, I must concede that Jesus is the one who rules over me and my family. Human rulers come and go. The mores and the laws change with time. Most are just and fair laws (which I am thankful for). But Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is the best ruler. He is faithful and true. Life under his reign is wonderful. He fills our hearts with truth and love. He guides our minds and our hearts. He is the Prince of Peace who grants us his peace. Thank you Lord. The economy is bad. There is little hope for change in the future. There are all kinds of temptations to lead our kids astray. It seems that almost everyone is living pay check to pay check. Where is the peace for people? There is none in this world. There are so many things that rob us of our peace. But God is with us. We know that no matter what happens God is with us and he is guiding our lives. He is with our family. He is with Julie and I. He will continue to dwell in us and among us as we carry on with this pilgrimage of life. Where would I be if Jesus is not ruling my life, family and even this nation? I would suffer so much inwardly.  I pray for the young people of this nation to discover the blessings of having Jesus ruling over them and submit themselves to his kingship.

Part 2: Good Intentions Must Be Subject to God (24-35).

Verses 24-35, “And he said, “I do have one request, that each of you give me an earring from your share of the plunder.” (It was the custom of the Ishmaelites to wear gold earrings.) ²⁵ They answered, “We’ll be glad to give them.” So they spread out a garment, and each of them threw a ring from his plunder onto it.²⁶ The weight of the gold rings he asked for came to seventeen hundred shekels, not counting the ornaments, the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian or the chains that were on their camels’ necks. ²⁷ Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family. ²⁸ Thus Midian was subdued before the Israelites and did not raise its head again. During Gideon’s lifetime, the land had peace forty years. ²⁹ Jerub-Baal son of Joash went back home to live. ³⁰ He had seventy sons of his own, for he had many wives. ³¹ His concubine, who lived in Shechem, also bore him a son, whom he named Abimelek. ³² Gideon son of Joash died at a good old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. ³³ No sooner had Gideon died than the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They set up Baal-Berith as their god ³⁴ and did not remember the Lord their God, who had rescued them from the hands of all their enemies on every side. ³⁵ They also failed to show any loyalty to the family of Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) in spite of all the good things he had done for them.”

Gideon had some good intentions for the gold that he received as a reward. He intended to make a gold ephod to commemorate the victory. An ephod was a linen garment worn by priests. His intention was good, but the people began to worship the ephod as an idol and it became a snare to Gideon and his family. In all of our plans and decisions, we must always pray that our “good” ideas may glorify God and promote faith and worship.

It is so true. There is a saying, “The road to hell is paved with the best intentions”. We may think that we are doing something that will really glorify God, but actually we are setting something up that will be a snare to others and actually hinder the work of God. The only way to find out the best way to serve God and to good works that always promote the glory of God and the expansion of the Kingdom of God is to pray and pray some more. We really have to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.

I thank God for the good foundations laid out by the Network of Nations at NIU. They have a lot of integrity and their works will carry on to the next generation.KishwaukeeBibleChurchis laying down a good foundation. UBF is trying to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. We must be very prayerful and not do something that will hinder the work of God in the future.

This is what I need to learn. I am so ready just to barrel ahead with something with little or no prayer. I must be very wise. I must think about the repercussions of my actions in the future. Will what I attempt to do for Jesus today actually cause people to not remember the Lord their God and forget about the good things that servants of God have done in the past? Lord, for give me for my many thoughtless decisions.

I can also see the importance of one spiritual leader. The nation was following the Lord, while Gideon was alive, but when he was gone they fell away. A good leader can affect the spiritual atmosphere for a whole nation for an entire generation. Billy Graham is such a leader forAmerica. Who will take his place? Will we drift away from the Gospel and true faith?

Whoever the leader is, that leader must think about the spiritual health of their people beyond their years of service. They must think about how their people will continue to walk in faith. Dr Samuel Lee passed on to heaven. But UBF carried on…why? God is with us. But also Dr Lee was careful to raise up disciples who could carry on the work of God. May we think about our legacy and passing on the faith to the next generation.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for being my King. Please rule over my life, family, and nation.

One Word: May all we do promote God’s kingship and pass on faith to the next generation.